LAMITAN CITY, BASILAN — The Bangsamoro Autonomous region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) government held a two-day simultaneous public consultation on the proposed Bangsamoro Transition Authority or BTA Bill No. 29 known as as Bangsamoro Electoral Code, in the provinces of Sulu and Tawi-tawi-respectively in an effort to enlighten the people about the upcoming law.
Parliament member and Deputy Floor Leader Atty. Raissa Janurie said, the Bangsamoro Electoral Code will govern the 2025 elections. The code prescribes the structural, functional, and procedural principles in the elections of members of the Parliament in the Bangsamoro region and also ensure honest, credible, just, and free elections, allowing democratic political participation and reflecting the genuine will of the electorate.
On the proposed Bangsamoro Electoral Code, the Bangsamoro Electoral Office will be divided into six bureaus: Party Representation, Constituency Representation, Election Assessors, Provincial Operations, National and Local Election, and Administrative and Finance.
The Bangsamoro Region is the only region in the Philippines to hold regional elections, Jajurie explained during the public consultation that the Parliament wants to create a law that reflects the unique features of BARMM.
The public consultation was held on December 7 and December 8 in two respective provinces.
In order to prepare for that milestone in strengthening the BARMM, she added, “We want to make sure that there is a law as soon as 2023.” Under the Bangsamoro Organic Law, BEC is one of the seven priority laws that the BTA is mandated to enact.
On the second day of the public consultation stakeholders from the non-government organizations, civil society organizations, the academic community, and religious sectors were also consulted to listen to their opinion on the proposal.
Lawyer Sha Elijah Dumama-Alba, chairperson of the committee on rules, said the electoral code will settle all issues revolving among BARMM government and the Local Government Units (LGU).
Sulu Governor Abdulsakur tan reminded the BTA and the participants that over and above the proposed Bangsamoro Electoral Code is the Philippine Electroal Code prevails.
two-day provincial government of Tawi-Tawi expressed gratitude to the Bangsamoro Parliament for holding a public consultation on the proposed Bangsamoro Electoral Code in the southernmost province of the Philippines.
Tawi-Tawi Governor Yshmael Sali thanked the Bangsamoro Parliament and its members for coming to Tawi-Tawi to listen to their opinions, comments, and suggestions about the proposed code.
Given its location, Governor Sali said that Tawi-Tawi is always the last to be visited. He is delighted that they were given top priority this time.
The public consultation in the said province was attended by 16 members of Parliament, the largest delegation at the simultaneous public consultations in the island provinces.
Local chief executives from all over the province, from as far as the Municipality of Turtle Islands, participated in the public consultation.-Lovely Grace Alconaba with report from BIO
